Page 278 - Chinese SIlver By Adrien Von Ferscht

There is almost no doubt that Gem Wo had
an affinity with the bamboo plant; it is the
most featured Chinese decorative motif on
items carrying the mark. In particular Gem
Wo seems to have liked bamboo fronds and
exploited their decorative potentials to the
full wherever possible.
The circa 1875 tankard [left] has a profuse
bamboo foliate motif that has been worked to
give the illusion of layers and depth which is
accentuated by placing it on a finely
planished ground. Much attention has been
given to the detailing of the bamboo loop
handle.
The tea pot [below] is particularly pleasing;
not only is it simply round, not all that
common with Chinese silver tea pots, but the
detailing on the spout is quite extraordinary.
It is very rare to see a silversmith having
lavished time and effort into reproducing the
node points of a bamboo stem so accurately.
The final on the lid comprises a small section
of bamboo stem resting on small bamboo
fronds that issue from it. The whole tea pot is
almost an ode in itself to bamboo.